Urban Studies

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Internet sites for Urban Studies

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Evaluating Internet Resources

The Internet provides access to a great deal of information. However, anybody can publish anything on it, and for this reason you must always think carefully about using web-based information - for example in an essay or dissertation - unless you are certain it is from a reputable source. Most of the information which is provided in databases, e.g. Social Services Abstracts, or from journal articles is reliable as it has been though the 'peer-review' system. This means that the article has been reviewed by experts in the subject field before publication. The information on the Internet goes through no such process and you must be judicious when using it.

Below are links to websites which are free, "teach yourself" tutorials that let you practise your Internet Information Skills and demonstrate how to assess the usefulness and reliability of sources. Most importantly, they will show you that you should consider the following criteria:

  • Accuracy - is the information correct? Can it be verified from other sources?
  • Authority- who is writing it? Is the producing institution reputable?
  • Objectivity - what point of view is it promoting? Is it biased in some way?
  • Currency - is there a date of publication/updating? Are links updated regularly?
  • Coverage - does it cover what you need to know?
  • Contact - is there an email or other address for further information?

Useful webskills websites

Internet sites for Urban Studies

Gateways/Portals  (web pages which present information from various sources in organised way)

  • Communities and Local Government  - portal to a range of information on local government, with links to information on housing, cities and regions and planning.
  • Open Directory Project - Housing;  Urban Economics; Urban History;  Urban and Regional Planning; - vast and varied list of web sites on many aspects of Urban Studies
  • Planning Town and Country - website from Bedford City council with a number of very useful links to planning websites.
  • Sapling.info - Architecture, Planning & Landscape Information Gateway - a global gateway for information, and a forum for its exchange. It is a free-to-access resource aimed at academics, students, professionals, practitioners, and anyone else with an interest in the areas of architecture, planning and landscape.
  • Urbanicity - portal giving access to educational material, internet sites, reports and articles. Excellent wide ranging site, with very good links.

Web Sites

  • Campbell Collaboration - is an international network of social and behavioural scientists that prepares, maintains and disseminates systematic reviews of the effectiveness of interventions in education, crime and justice and social welfare.
  • Centre for Research in Social Policy - research centre based at Loughborough University. Focuses on four main themes: poverty and social exclusion; work and welfare trajectories; policy evaluation; and the administration and delivery of welfare services.
  • Centre for Education in the Built Environment - part of the Subject Network of the Higher Education Academy. The Centre provides discipline based support to enhance the quality of learning and teaching in the UK Higher Education Built Environment community
  • Centre for Neighbourhood Research – Research Centre on neighbourhoods with a useful searchable Question Bank on Social Surveys.
  • Chartered Institute of Housing - the professional body for people working in housing, containing information on news, policy, events, etc. Excellent linking to full text documents on various aspects of housing.
  • Children in Scotland – website of the organisation providing policy information about children and young people in Scotland.
  • Data.gov -  a quick way into government data of all kinds including education, NHS, crime, transport and the environment
  • Institute for Public Policy Research -  research organisation focusing on social justice, democratic participation, and economic and environmental sustainability in government policy. Good linking to full text documents and reports on a variety of topics.
  • iSURV- Isurv provides information on building, surveying, commercial property, construction, planning etc. It also gives access to the publications of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, including appraisal and valuation standards - the Red Book. Access is limited to subscribing institutions; for username and password, please contact the library Enquiry Service (library@lib.gla.ac.uk, ext. 6704).
  • Joseph Rowntree Foundation - one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK; has a research and development programme that seeks to better understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.
  • New Policy Institute - think tank working for justice in the market economy. Produces a number of reports each year on poverty and social exclusion.
  • Regen.Net - website for regeneration professionals, linked to the journal Regeneration and Renewal.
  • Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors - website of the leading professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property and construction
  • Royal Town Planning Institute - organisation working in planning and the built environment - developing policy, standards maintenance, education and CPD for planners. Good searchable website and library and information services.
  • RUDI - Resource for Urban Design Information  - a comprehensive library of urban design case studies, reviews, comment, best practice, research, policy, initiatives, news and relevant links. Registration/membership required, though a two week trial is available.
  • Social Care Institute for Excellence - an organisation which promotes knowledge about good practice in social care. Aims at the dissemination of good practice throughout the sector. Has an online database.
  • SWAP - Social policy and social work subject centre of the Higher Education Academy. Promotes high quality learning, teaching and assessment by supporting social work and social policy educators.
  • The Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS)- comprehensive and searchable site on transportation information. North American emphasis, but contains useful information for the UK user.
  • Urban Age - the 'Urban Age' group was initiated by the Cities Programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Deutsche Bank's Alfred Herrhausen Society. The group's principal aim is "to shape the thinking and practice of urban leaders and sustainable urban development." Good links to publications and podcasts.
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  - comprehensive site on US policy in these areas. Of more general interest to UK users is the Office of Policy Development and Research section which has some useful freely available material, in particular access to current and back issues of three periodicals: ResearchWorks, Cityscape, and the quarterly report, U.S. Housing Market Conditions.

Current Awareness in Real Estate, Planning and Regeneration also provides a number of useful websites with the emphasis on keeping up date with news and developments in these areas.